Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies Sports Industry Management SIM: Sports and Event Planning & Facility Management MPSM 720 Course Syllabus MPSM 720 Sports Event Planning & Facility Management Wednesdays 8:00PM 10:30 PM SPRING 2012 Course Text Public Assembly Facility Management: Principles and Practices (Read List: PAFM) Principal Author: Peter J. Graham Executive Editor: Ray Ward, CFE Copyright: 09 Publisher: IAAM ISBN: 978-0-9841303-0-6 Cover: Hardcover Sports Event Management and Marketing Playbook (SEMMP) Author: Supovitz, Frank / Goldblatt, Joe Edition/Copyright: 05 Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Cover: Hardcover ISBN10: 0471460079 ISBN13: 9780471460077 This Business of Concert Promotion and Touring (BCPT) Author: Wadell, Ray/Barnett, Rich/Berry, Jake Copyright: 07 Publisher: Billboard Books Cover: Hardcover ISBN10: 0823076873 ISBN13: 978-0823076871 Periodical Reference SportsBusiness Daily (SBD) and SportsBusiness Journal (SBJ) Sports Business Daily (special student offer $65/semester) Sports Business Journal (student rate $65/semester) Syllabus Office Hours Course Abstract A copy of the syllabus can be found on Blackboard (https://campus.georgetown.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp). Also included are other course materials, course readings, sports calendars and updated assignments. Immediately before class or by appointment. Email dialogue can augment this process. This course provides students with an understanding of the requirements and complexities involved in planning and managing major sports events and facilities in relation to their social, cultural and global environment. Featured topics include the analysis of goals and resources, the development of the revenue streams, design and coordination, scheduling and operations, staff management and the implementation of action plans. Grading Procedure GRADING POINTS Class Participation 20 Attendance 5 Quiz (2) 10 Midterm Project 15 Assignment Paper 15 Final Group Project/ Papers & Presentations 35 Total 100 Sports and Event Planning & Facility Management 1
Course Goals, Objectives & Learning Outcomes When this course is finished, you should be able to: 1. Understand the ownership and management structure of public assembly facilities. 2. Identify and understand the various entities affecting the economic conditions of an event or facility. 3. Identify the different departments and their respective roles in operating a facility or an event and how they interact. 4. Identify revenue streams and expenses for events and facilities. 5. Understand the different factors involved in operating a facility or an event and how they affect the event, facility and local community. 6. Develop an understanding of the laws, statutes and regulations that affect the operation of an event or a facility. 7. Learn the process involved in creating and running an event. 8. Have a comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental principles, the impact and the significance of public assembly facility management and the presentation of sports events. 9. Had opportunities to improve your communication and presentation skills. Course Outline 10. Use the information from this course to assist your professional growth and success in sports industry management. Operations - FF&E, daily, engineering, housekeeping, maintenance, changeover, ice, staging, rigging, IT Booking/Scheduling - Booking process, tenant relations, league/venue scheduling, special events, deal structures, rent yield, promoters, agents, event spread, economic impact Box Office/Ticketing - Ticketing systems, ticketing methods (building v. team) box office structure, ticket scaling, setting up an event, box office operations/procedures, secondary market, new technologies Marketing Websites/internet, broadcast (TV, radio), print, ad plans, event marketing, industry advertising, group sales Public Relations - Publicizing events, industry publications, communicating to the public, spokesperson, emergency preparedness Sales & Sponsorship - Team sales v. building sales, sponsor rights, sponsor opportunities, promotions, issues, executive seating, suites, club seats, PSLs, signage, media rights Customer Service - Event staffing, ushers, ticket takers, security, ADA staff, customer issues, complaint resolution, training, volunteers, HR issues Event Production/Event Coordination - rigging, show production, working with shows, advancing information, distributing information, organizing show, coordinating details, working with all departments, working with promoters Legal/Safety - ADA issues, negligence, first aid, OSHA, NFPA, fire codes, permitting, safety codes, training, insurance, risk management, ticket scalping, bootleg merchandise, contract management Government/Community/Labor Relations - Dealing with local government, CVBs, chambers of commerce, FEMA, mega-shelters, disaster relief, unions, negotiations Food Service & Merchandising/Ancillary Services - Contract v. in-house, types of deals, types of food service, food service logistics, merchandise deals, merchandise logistics, parking Creating Events/Generating New Revenue - Creating an event for the building, parking lot, neighborhood/city/state considerations, analysis of venue, identifying/implementing new revenue streams, venue efficiencies, programming and content Sports and Event Planning & Facility Management 2
Teaching Philosophy This course is fast-paced, interactive and requires every student to be engaged as an executive and observer of sports leadership and management. Each class will be structured to accomplish the key learning objectives defined in the weekly classroom outline. There will be a focus on current news and issues as well as a discussion covering assigned reading and related subjects. Individual and group project work and in-class assignments will be included to enhance the learning experience. If you find yourself having difficulty with any of the concepts or assignments in the course, you are encouraged to contact your instructor to schedule an appointment. Your instructors can be most helpful when they have the chance to consult with you. Issues and Insights A key component for class participation will be the Issues and Insights segment. Students should be well versed on current events and be prepared to discuss recent news and significant topics relating to events and facility management as well as their implications for the industry. Classes will include issues-oriented, problem-solving sessions during which students will be placed in groups and assigned topics drawn from news events or readings to consider and discuss before sharing their insights through brief presentations by a representative of each group. Every student will be expected to represent his/her group for a presentation at least once during the semester. Experiential Field Trips to Verizon Center, Nationals Park Field trips to Verizon Center and Nationals Park are planned for the course and may be scheduled on dates other than a Wednesday class night. Students will be given advance notice of the dates and will be expected to attend. The trips will provide an outstanding look at first-class management and event operations at two of the country s premier sports venues. Please be respectful of the special relationships that we have developed and the luxuries this course has been afforded. The dates and other details will be announced during the semester. Quizzes Two quizzes will be conducted during the semester to gauge your understanding of and ability to apply the concepts and information presented in class, text/readings and your own observations. Each quiz will consist of some combination of up to 20 multiple choice, true-false and shortanswer questions. The quizzes will count for a total of 10 percent of your final grade. Assignment Paper/Venues Each student will be assigned one of five types of venues (stadium, arena, theater/performing arts center, convention center, other) and will select a specific public assembly facility to profile. Your paper should not be longer than six pages and must follow the writing standards found in the course syllabus. Other details regarding the paper will be provided during the semester. The assignment paper will count for 15 percent of your final grade. Midterm Project/ Events The class will be divided into groups. Each group will be assigned a type of event and will prepare an in-class presentation discussing key elements that are needed for the event s success, including one financially based and one operationally based. Presentations will be limited to 10 minutes and must include PowerPoint. Presentations must include relevant information describing the event as well as its primary assets/opportunities/strengths and issues/weaknesses/challenges. Additional information will be provided during the semester. The midterm project will count for 15 percent of your final grade. Sports and Event Planning & Facility Management 3
Final Project The class will be divided into groups. Each group will represent a local organizing committee (LOC) that will respond to an assigned Request for Proposal (RFP) to host a specified Championship Event. Each group will create a response to an entire bid package to host the event based on the requirements of the RFP. The group will be required to select a community and a venue to host the event as part of its bid. Washington, DC, the Greater Washington DC metropolitan area including Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland and the venues located in the Washington market are disqualified from being considered as a host community or venue. This is a semester-long project and, due to the detailed information required of the project, it is strongly recommended that planning should start as soon as the RFP s are distributed. A written bid package must be submitted and all of the specifications outlined in the RFP need to be addressed. Each group s written bid package and oral presentation of each bid will be presented to the entire class during finals week (date and location to be determined). Each group must submit its written bid package on Blackboard and provide four paper copies by the start of class on the presentation date. Each group must submit its PowerPoint slides and/or other accompanying material on Blackboard and provide four paper copies of its PowerPoint slides and/or other accompanying material by the start of class. Groups also must provide a typed recap identifying the contributions to the project by each group member and every student must submit a fully completed peer evaluation form. All group members will be expected to speak during the in-class presentation. This project will count for 35 percent of your final grade. Additional details will be provided during the semester. Sports and Event Planning & Facility Management 4
General Policies and Procedures GU SIM Overview Blackboard/ GU Email The Masters program in Sports Industry Management in Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies is led by Associate Dean Matt Winkler and its mission is to develop front office leaders for the broad world of sports. Students can choose between two tracks: Strategic Marketing, Communications and New Media; or Business, Management and Operations. The faculty includes top executives from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NCAA, USOC, NFL Players Association, U.S. Soccer Foundation, Octagon, Under Armour and other organizations. http://www12.georgetown.edu/scs/sports The course will use Blackboard for the distribution of assigned reading material and for many other purposes. It will be used to communicate assignments and announcements to students and will for other class-related material. Readings/ Books/Periodicals Please make sure that your GU email has been properly forwarded to the correct address if you use another e-mail provider. Also, please make sure that you check the course Blackboard site on a regular basis for announcements, reading material, and assignments. Students will be asked to read various chapters of the textbooks and/or articles from selected periodicals and books. The readings will provide valuable details and informative perspectives about the sports industry generally and specifically about event planning and facility management in sports. Class Participation A sports executive must be a thoughtful, informed and articulate communicator. Students are expected and encouraged to interact in class with the instructors, fellow students and guest speakers. Students should actively participate in class discussions based on the textbook, reading assignments and current event issues. Students are encouraged to email suggested topics and articles for class discussion. Students will gain the most from this course through engaged attentiveness and enthusiasm. Attendance/ Sign-in Sheets/ Lateness Students are expected to attend every class and arrive on time. Attendance will be taken on a sign-in sheet. It is the student s responsibility to make sure they have signed the sign-in for every class. If circumstances preclude you from attending a class or making it to class before it begins, it is your responsibility to notify us via phone or e-mail prior to the start of class. Missing more than two classes will result in a final grade reduction of one level. Special circumstances should be discussed with us ahead of time. If a student is continually late, his/her final grade may be negatively impacted (at the discretion of the instructor). Makeup of Exams or Projects Expectations for Assignments Professionalism A makeup of a quiz, exam, paper, presentation or project may be permitted by the instructor only upon acceptable written verification of a medical or other emergency or illness. Assignments are expected to be of high quality and submitted in the proper format. Assignments will be considered for writing, content, and professional appearance including the use of proper grammar, punctuation, spelling and structure. All written work is to be typed, double-spaced, using a 12-point font and with 1-inch margins. Hard-copy, multiple-page documents must be stapled. Written work should be submitted using the APA format. Each assignment should be e- mailed or uploaded prior to the start of class on the day it is due and hard copies turned in at the beginning of class. Late work will lose one letter grade per day it is late. If you are to miss a class, you must still turn in on time any assignment due that day. Extenuating circumstances should be discussed with your instructor ahead of time to receive consideration. Students are expected to act in a professional manner including meeting deadlines, solving problems, cooperating with classmates, and generally contributing in a positive way to the class. Teamwork, listening, empathy, enthusiasm, emotional maturity and consideration of other people s concerns are all essential to success. Please bring these qualities and values with you to class. It is as important to practice these interpersonal skills as part of your education in the sports industry. Students will be evaluated on their professional demeanor in class and within a group dynamic. Sports and Event Planning & Facility Management 5
Note on "Off the Record" Georgetown University Honor Pledge/ Plagiarism Everything discussed in class by the instructors, students or guest speakers is off-the-record. Class discussions, dialogue and/or any content may not be electronically recorded in any manner and is not to appear in any media or other outside outlet including but not limited to a newspaper or other publication, radio or TV station, on the internet or in any other form. Any violation of this policy will result in expulsion from the class and further discipline as determined by the University. Ethics Statement: As signatories to the Georgetown University Honor Pledge, and indeed as good scholars and citizens, you are expected to uphold academic honesty in all aspects of this course. You are expected to be familiar with the letter and spirit of the Standards of Conduct outlined in the Georgetown Honor System and on the Honor Council website. As faculty, I too am obligated to uphold the Honor System and report all suspected cases of academic dishonesty. For more information, please visit: http://gervaseprograms.georgetown.edu.he/index/html. Honor System: Students are expected to abide by the Georgetown University Honor System. If you have not already done so, please familiarize yourself with the material and information posted on the Honor Council s website: http://gervaseprograms.georgetown.edu/he/index.html. Georgetown University Honor Pledge: In the pursuit of the high ideals and rigorous standards of academic life, I commit myself to respect and uphold the Georgetown University Honor System: to be honest in any academic endeavor, and to conduct myself honorably, as a responsible member of the Georgetown community, as we live and work together. Plagiarism Resource Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for a Textual Similarity Review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be added as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers in the future. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the terms of use agreement posted on the Turnitin.com site. Academic Resource Center Guest Speakers Academic Resource Center: If you have a disability, you should contact the Academic Resource Center (arc@georgetown.edu) for further information. The Center is located in the Leavey Center, Suite 335. The Academic Resource Center is the campus office responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students with disabilities and for determining reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and University policies. It is anticipated the course will host several high-profile guest speakers. In addition, other speakers visiting the campus may be made available to our class whenever possible. Taking notes during speakers presentations is strongly encouraged since these speakers will also be discussed in class and their content may be used in exam questions. Please be respectful of the special relationships that we have developed and the luxuries this course has been afforded. Laptops Class Policies The use of laptops during class will be permitted only for taking notes or other class-related activities. Unauthorized use of laptops, such as for internet browsing, email or instant messaging, by any student will result in forfeiting laptop privileges for all students and a possible reduction in grade. Dress code students are expected to dress appropriately for class. Business casual is recommended. Flip flops, gym clothes, etc. are not acceptable attire for class. Cell phones must be turned off during class. Texting is not permitted. No food in class. Beverages are permitted. Please be considerate and dispose any beverage containers brought into the classroom. Caveat The information, procedures and schedule included in this syllabus are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. There WILL BE modifications to the syllabus so be prepared to adapt to them. Sports and Event Planning & Facility Management 6